Collapsible packing-case.



P atented Aug. 7. I900.

P. F. KESTING.

COLLAPSIBLE PACKING CASE.

(Application filed Jan. 11, 1900.)

(No Model.)

VV/ZNESSES.

Paul .ZTKeJtz'zlly.

5 ms ATTORNYS,

UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

PAUL F. KESTING, OF OTTAIVA, KANSAS.

COLLAPSIBLE PACKING-CASE.

SFEUIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,244, dated August '7, 1900.

Application filed January 11, 1900. Serial No. 1,068. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL F. KESTING, of Ottawa, in the county of Franklin and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Collapsible Packing- Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to collapsible packing-cases, and aims to provide a packing case or box for the shipment of merchandise or other purposes which shall be capable of being dismembered without the parts being entirely separated from each other and in such a manner that the dismembered box will occupy only the exact amount of space required for the lumber or other material of which it is made, so that the box after being once used may be stored or kept for future use, occupying a minimum amount of space during such storage, and may be used repeatedly until worn out by service, thus resulting in great economy of time, labor, space, and material.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of the packing-case partially set up with its top and bottom open. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the packing-case, taken on the line III III of Fig. 1, showing in dotted lines the position of the sides when the case is partly collapsed. Fig.

0 3 is a perspective View of the packing-case when collapsed. Fig.4 is a perspective view of one of the hinges of the packing-case.

In said drawings I have shown a box of sub- ..stantially-cubical form, and in the following 5 description and claims the various sides of the same are for convenience referred to as top, bottom, sides, ends, &c.; but

it is obvious that the form of box may be varied and also that the terms mentioned are interchangeable and may be applicable to either face of the box, according to preference or circumstances.

. 1 may designate the top of a box; 2, the bottom; 3, one of the sides; 4, the opposite side 5 5 6, the two sections composing one of the ends, and 7 8 the corresponding sections of the opposite end. As represented, all the six faces of the box are composed of material of the same width, with two sections thereof for each face; but it is immaterial how many sections go to make up the respective faces,

and they may all be of one piece, if preferred, except the end sections 5 G and 7 8, which must be made in at least two parts and so as to divide on a central line, on which they are hinged together by hinges 9 1O 11, two hinges being provided on each of said central dividing-lines. Said hinges are placed on or sunk within the outer surfaces of said sections 5 6 7 8, so that said sections when the box is collapsed will fold inward. One of the hinges uniting sections 7 8 is not shown in the drawings. Each of said sections is also hinged at two points to the adjacent side, as shown at 12 and 18, Fig. 1, also at 13 14 15 16 17, Figs. 2 and 3. Said hinges are so adjusted that said sections will fold inwardly upon the sides. The top 1 is hinged to the upper edge of one of the sides, as at 19, Fig. l, and the bottom 2 is hinged to the lower edge of the opposite side, which hinges appear at 20, Fig. 3.

The method of collapsing the box has been substantially indicated. The top 1 and bottom 2 are first rotated on their hinges into the positions shown in Fig. 1. The side sections 5 6 and 7 S are then pushed inwardly, and the various faces of the box may then be pressed toward each other until they assume the po sitions shown in Fig. 3.

Along all the corners of the box the meeting edges of the material are preferably bev eled to make tight joints and a better finish.

For strengthening the sides of the box and se curing the various sections firmly together I also employ rods 21, which pass through longitudinal passages in the side and end sec tions in the planes of the hinges 9 1O 12, &c. Said rods are provided with heads at one end and a thread and nut at the other, which are seated in mortises, as at 22, made deep enough to prevent the ends of p the rods from interfering with the joint. The hinges are also all of them provided with projecting ears 23, as shown in detail in Fig. 4, which enter the wood and are provided with openings 24:,- through which the rods pass, the object being to more firmly secure the hinges in the wood. The hinges at the cornersof the box are pro vided with two ears on each side of the joint instead of one, as shown in Fig. 2.

It will be seen that I have produced a pack in g-case of great strength, durability, and con venience for the purpose indicated, capable of being put together without nails or other fastenings than those described.

Having described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A collapsible packing-case having ends composed of two sections meeting each other on a central dividing-line, and hinged together on said line so as to fold inwardly, and sides hinged to each of the adjacent end sections, so that said sections will fold inwardly upon the sides, of strengthening-rods extending through said end sections and said sides, and

provided with a head at one end and a nut at the other, seated in mortises formed in the meeting edges ofsaid sections and said sides, substantially as set forth.

2. Acollaps'ible packing-casehaving sides and end sections hinged together so as to fold inwardly upon each other, as described, the hinges connecting said parts being provided with ears extending inwardly into the material, and openings through said ears, of strengthening-rods extending through said sections and through said openings, and secured in mortises in the meeting edges of said sections, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

PAUL F. KESTI'NG.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. HARRISON, E. E. SMITH. 

